Alabama vs Ole Miss, Prediction Pick, 2009. This weekend we will see one of the most anticipated SEC games this season. The Crimson Tide will be traveling to Oxford to take on the Ole Miss Rebels. The Rebels are going to be fighting to regain the respect they lost after their devastating loss to South Carolina earlier this season. The Tide will be fighting to remain undefeated, and show everyone that they really deserve that No. 3 spot.

This game pits two strong quarterbacks against each other as well. Greg McElroy came in to the season as somewhat of an unknown. In August no one expected him to be the 2nd ranked quarterback in the SEC after 5 games. Jevan Snead on the other hand was expected to be right behind Tebow in the rankings. Everyone thought Snead was going to be tough to beat. If McElroy can continue with the kind of stats he’s been posting so far this season he will more than likely outshine Snead dramatically in this game.

I think the key to this game will be the defense. Alabama struggled with stopping the run against Kentucky. Stopping the run is going to be key in playing Ole Miss. This was the first game without their star inside linebacker Dont’a Hightower, and everyone is still unsure how they will adjust without him. Ole Miss meanwhile has a strong defense. In the four games they’ve had this season they have had 12 sacks, and they’ve only given up an average of 10.8 points per game. It will be interesting to see how both offenses perform against these two powerhouse defenses.

My pick to win this one is Alabama, but I don’t think it will be a dominating win. The biggest advantage that Alabama has this season is their balanced offense. They can pass and run well which always makes a difference against strong defenses. Also this is the best offense that Ole Miss will have faced this season, on the other side of that coin this is the best defense that Alabama will have faced. I don’t expect this to be a very high scoring game, but Alabama should come out on top, 24-17.

Ole Miss vs Vandy, Prediction Pick, 2008
by Bunkie Perkins (www.friendsoftheprogram.net)

Fresh off a nice little bit of embarrassment in front of a national
television audience, the Ole Miss Rebels try to get right in nashville
before their showdown with Alabama in Oxford next weekend. Vanderbilt
has been plagued with defensive injuries and academic issues which,
under normal circumstances, might pose a problem, but as last Thursday
night showed, Ole Miss’ offense leaves much to be desired at this
point in the early season. Much of the Rebel struggles begin with the
revamped line. Bradley Sowell,he of the “Im glad we aren’t number 4
anymore” Sowells, has got to show an ability to at least fall in front
of on rushing defenders before the offense will have any sort of
continuity. On the field last year, Ole Miss was clearly the superior
team, but let a bucket-full of turnovers cost them the win. This
year, if they can refrain from giving Vandy cheap points and thus any
sign of hope, it should be a workmanlike W for Ole Miss. Ole Miss 24
Vandy 13

Ole Miss vs South Carolina, Pick Prediction, 2009
by Bunkie Perkins (friendsoftheprogram.net)

Feel that knot in your stomach Rebel fans. That uneasiness and fear of the unknown that starts in the pit of your stomach and slowly makes its way to the middle of your throat. It burns and festers there with no hope of release. That’s the feeling of being an unproven, top ranked team, about to be on display, with the nation watching, hoping for the best but fearing the worst. Its a feeling you haven’t felt before, and if the Rebels don’t show up on Thursday night, its a feeling you wont soon forget. It seems like the national media is almost begging Ole Miss to lose. half of the AP voters already have 3/4 finished columns ready to hit the wire Friday morning if the Rebels don’t pull a win out in Columbia this weekend. Despite the hostile environment, this game sets up nicely for Ole Miss. South Carolina is coming in with an extremely banged up and extremely thin defense. Steven Garcia, while showing improvement is still somewhat mistake proned.

Ole Miss comes in with two glorified scrimmages under their belt, untested and over hyped. Jevan Snead will need to show the form that led the Rebels to 6 straight wins to end 2008, and the defense will need to prove that they are worthy of much preseason praise. After an early big play from USC and a back and forth game for a half, the Rebels pull away thanks to consistent play from Snead and a healthy dose of the run game from Brandon Bolden and Enrique Davis.

Ole Miss vs Southeastern Louisiana, Pick Prediction, 2009

Writing any sort of preview on this game is a waste of my time and yours…its a wash, a glorified scrimmage, a sheep thrown to the slaughter all for the market price of around $450,000.  Let’s address
more unsettling issues.  You see that squiggly mark next to Ole Miss’s name.  That thing has no business being there and scares most Rebel fans to death at this point the season.  The #5 ranking is afixed to their name basically by default.  They have played one knock-the-rust-off game against Memphis, they were off last week,and they have Hammond, Louisiana’s finest coming to town this weekend.  All the while the teams ahead of them have been playing actual legitimate football teams and in some cases, losing and thus falling in the polls, allowing the Rebs, who have yet to really start their season, to move up.  Call this the Bill Snyder maneuver.  Legitimately, Ole Miss is probably somewhere in the #12- #15 area of best teams in the country right now.

All of this over-hype has left some Rebel fans fearing the worst. History and timidity have them expecting a fall from the lofty pedestal and the requisite “over rated” chants from the rest of college football”.  But I say soak it up Ole Miss.  Breathe in that rarefied air.  Dip your toes in the deep end of the pool for once and enjoy.  All of your tough games are at home (but some major trap games
@South Carolina and @Auburn) and you have the best quarterback in the SEC not named Tebow under center, its a good time to be a Rebel…overrated or not.

(this kid is not even 3, and knows all of his rebs)

Premise: The SEC as Old School Tag Teams

Let’s face it, I’m like the Fox Reality Television Department. I see a good idea, and I tweak it for my purposes. So, I saw Black Heart Gold Pants did a post comparing College Football Teams to pro wrestlers? I say two is better than one, I say the late 80′s are better than now, and I say that I remember the Conquistadors, and I care.

Mississippi State is…The Conquistadors

There’s a term in wrestling called Jobber to the Stars. You have a guy or a team with some name recognition. And they get to beat some random dudes. (Jackson State, Middle Tennessee State) But if they face somebody with any sort of expectation? They’re basically a guarantee game. Thus, they are the Conquistadors.

Auburn is…The Colossal Connection

Because Auburn is a school with traditionally outsized expectations. Bobby Lowder is a man who wanted this team to be as good as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The problem with that? Chris Todd’s arm is as strong as a post Princess Bride Andre was agile. The defense hits hard and I know that Antonio Coleman’s going to poke the eye out of Jimmy Jack Funk if he crosses him.

Arkansas is…the Rockers

This is mainly due to their post team career. The offense is something that is destined for bigger and better things. A lot of talent on that side of the ball. The defense? They’re the one destined for a long string of drug arrests and 18 person audiences. Ryan Mallet’s got a superkick that would take your head clean off.

Ole Miss is…The Fabulous Freebirds

They’re the team that’s built on swagger and style. You have a gunslinging quarterback in Jevan Snead. You have two playmakers in Dexter McCluster and Shay Hodge. You have a defense that will hit you as if you have been blindsided by a foreign object. I know Oxford doesn’t seem to have much bad on their streets, but there is a chance for the most genteel championship riot of all time.

Alabama is…Money Inc.

Everybody has a price. Everybody’s gonna pay. And you know that the Million Dollar Saban? He always gets his way.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Well.

LSU is…The Four Horsemen

They aren’t exactly the most charismatic team that you build a narrative over. Not to say that Les Miles doesn’t work well from the meme that he is the Ric Flair of the SEC. (If Ric Flair wore hats.) But the team is at its best when the offense is technically proficient and the defense will beat you down in the parking lot. Last year? This was the iteration where you had to deal with Paul Romo or Steve McMichael.

Vanderbilt is…The Fabulous Rougeaus

The offense is filled with ennui. Self-loathing. People who smoke clove cigarettes. Add to that a love of independent film and DeGrassi. The defense is filled with technical proficency and hard hitting. They are as well coached as a team managed by the Mouth of the South. But this is a team that reeks of Quebecois.

Kentucky is…The Public Enemy

Few teams get so much out of so little like Rich Brooks and the Wildcats. They’re trying for their fourth straight bowl win off of little more than Randall Cobb, Trevard Lindley, and a frying pan. You don’t know how they’re going to do this. But if you take them lightly? They will put you through a table.

South Carolina is…The Hart Foundation

If the Hart Foundation was in some sort of an Ultamaceian time paradox. The offense is Bret Hart. The bitter, concussed, stroked out Bret Hart. The defense? Ellis Johnson has a team that is ready willing and able to punch you in the mouth, stroke their awesome goat, and cackle about it. Just ask Russell Wilson. But the best there was isn’t exactly going to hold up their end of the deal.

Tennessee is…Demolition

Now, you look at the way the Road Warriors had galvanized mid-80′s tag-team wrestling and the WWE asked why not us? So they have the Dave Clausen like success of the outfit known as the Powers of Pain. But you dress up this new era? You get the power and the paint of top prospect Bryce Brown and the outlaw tomfoolery of one Lane Kiffin. In some form or fashion, these kids will be Walking Disasters.  

Georgia is…The Twin Towers

As this is the greatest official rivalry in the SEC, you need to have the great foil to the super duo. And as Florida is the Mania and the Madness? Georgia has to be the Law and Order and the Jive Soul Bro. They are a talented team, and if you are anybody else besides a championship contender and or Florida? They will break your face off.

Florida is…The Megapowers

You have Hulk Hogan (Tim Tebow) and Randy “Macho Man” Savage (Brandon Spikes) both in their primes. You have Urban Meyer as a savvier Miss Elizabeth. You have a team that’s bound to win every game that they play. The only thing that I can see that ends them is if Brandon Spikes accuses Tim Tebow of jealous eyes.

So while you wonder if anyone can take the Megapowers down? I’ll do something else. I already know, dear reader.

I already know.

Ole Miss vs Memphis, 2009 Prediction Preview. Ole Miss and Memphis will mercifully put down their long standing home and home series in a small but dignified ceremony in amidst streams of random gunfire at the Liberty Bowl on Sunday. However, this final installment has all the makings of a mercy killing Ole Miss, who is rivaling John and Kate for most magazine covers in a 4 month span, brings a stout defensive front to face a Tiger squad who has had issues and injury on the o-line all preseason. Ole Miss also boasts Heisman hopeful Jevan Snead at quarterback and enough speed at wideout and in the backfield to make for a long evening for Tiger fans in their now handi-friendly stadium.

Ole Miss wins in a walk, and Memphis fans regret buying inappropriate t-shirts. Ole Miss 54 Memphis 20

-What do you think will happen? Leave a comment below, and tell us what you think. Subscribe, and come back all season-

Ole Miss 2009 Trailer

Houston Nutt Admits He Is Afraid Of The Hogs. No, the Ole Miss coach is not afraid of the Arkansas Razor Backs. Houston Nutt is afraid of Swine Flu and other various flu strains. He shut down the Ole Miss “Meet the Rebels Day” . Read the press release for yourself.
Hat Tip Paul Gattis
OXFORD, Miss. – In an abundance of caution regarding the potential exposure of various flu strains, Ole Miss officials announced Tuesday that Saturday’s planned “Meet the Rebels Day” has been cancelled for this year.

“After consultation with our team physicians and Coach Houston Nutt, we felt it was in the best interest of our football team to cancel this year’s ‘Meet the Rebels Day’,” said Ole Miss Athletics Director Pete Boone.

“While we may be over cautious regarding the flu, our season opener is less than three weeks away and we can’t take any chances,” Nutt said. “We certainly regret not being able to interact with our fans at this time.”

SEC Football Preseason Predictions, 2009. Here they are short and sweet. I know that my predictions will not only raise eyebrows, but they will also bring my sanity into question. I can only say that I think the SEC West is the deepest we have ever seen. Parody will be the SEC West’s surname. With 2 weeks to go in the season there will be several teams with shots at going to the Atlanta for the championship. The SEC East will be sewn up fairly quickly by the impenetrable Florida Gators. Georgia will make a lot of heads turn picking up the trash.

Auburn and Tennessee will both bring some normalcy to the picture by running the ball and keeping their defense fresh so they can do what they know how to do. The coaches have changed but the top level talent is still there. The coaches and assistants will bring new life.  Alabama, Arkansas, and Ole Miss will all come back to Earth a little. Well, Alabama a lot. Alabama lost their best passing QB of all time ( by the #’s ), and they lost their top 1 or 2 ranked offensive lineman throughout their storied program’s history. Last year was the perfect storm for them, and they still lost their last 2 games.

Please do not be too offended, if your team is not where you expect it. This is the best conference in the nation, and it is the deepest I have ever seen it. #5 through #11 could lose to each other any given Saturday. #5 through #11 would be the pride of any other conference. That’s just how the SEC roles.

1. Florida: 12-1, 1st in SEC East with a 7-1 SEC record = SEC Champions
2. Georgia: 11-2, 2nd in SEC East with a 6-2 SEC record
3. Alabama: 9-4, Tied 1st in SEC West with a 5-3 SEC record
4. LSU: 9-4, Tied 1st in SEC West with a 5-3 SEC record
5. South Carolina: 9-4, 3rd in SEC East with a 5-3 SEC record
6. Auburn: 9-4, Tied 3rd in SEC West with a 4-4 SEC record
7. Ole Miss: 8-5, Tied 3rd in SEC West with a 4-4 SEC record
8. Tennessee: 7-6, Tied 4th in SEC East with a 3-5 SEC record
9. Vanderbilt: 6-6, Tied 4th in SEC East with a 3-5 SEC record
10. Arkansas: 5-7, 5th in SEC West with a 3-5 SEC record
11. Kentucky: 5-7, 6th in SEC East with a 2-6 SEC record
12. Mississippi State: 3-9 , 6th in SEC West with a 0-8 SEC record

That’s just how the SEC roles.